Switching mechanism.



J. A. NELSON. SWITCHING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2o,v 1912.

1,099,813, I Patented June 9,1914.

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J. A. NELSON. SWITCHING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN.20,1 912.

1,099,81 Patented June 9,1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOCIIIAPH CO.,\VASHINOTON. D. e.

JOSEPH A. NELSON, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

SWITCHING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Application filed January 20, 1912. Serial No. 672,271.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. NnLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switching Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in switching mechanism, and has particular application to switches of the type which are adapted especially for use in connection with street railways and are designed to be operated through the medium of mechanism under the control of the motorman on the car. In the present instance, it is my purpose to provide a simple, reliable and efficient form of switching mechanism which may be operated at will by the motorman on the car, without the necessity of having him leave the car platform.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide mechanism located at the switch and between the track rails which mechanism is connected to the switch point, and so arranged that projecting members of said mechanism are adapted to be contacted with by the switch throwing means actuated by the motorman for the purpose of throwing the switch in the desired direction.

With the above-recited objects, and others of a similar nature in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-F1gure 1 is a perspective View of a section of trackway showing the switch throwing connection for the switch point. Fig, 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the switch operating mechanism carried by the car, the platfrom of the car being shown in cross section. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail the numerals 11 indicatethe track rails at the switch and 2 is the switch point of the usual construction. Extending between the track rails is a cross tie or beam 3, said beam being located in the ground below the level of the tread portions of the rails. Projecting above the upper surface of this cross beam, and suitably spaced apart from each other are the two contact blocks 4 and 5, the said block 4 being carried by the member 6 of the bell crank lever 7 which is pivoted to the beam 3 at 8, while similarly the contact block 5 is carried by the arm 9 of the bell crank lever 10 pivoted as at-ll to the beam. The lower ends of the bell crank levers are connected by the rod or link 13, at the points 1414.

Connecting the point 14 with the switch point 2 is a link or rod 15, said rod being fastened to the switch point at the point 16. It will be noted from the construction thus far described that when the contact block 4 is depressed, the block 5 will be raised, and vice versa, this movement of the two blocks tending to open or close the switch, as the case may be.

In order to operate the switch connections, I mount upon the car platform 17 a simple form of apparatus which may be briefly described as follows: The numeral 18 designates a shaft suitably journaled and having mounted thereon the operating wheel 19 designed to be turned by means of the handle 20 within easy reach of the motorman. Connected. to the spokes 21 of the wheel at the upper ends thereof are the arms 2222, which project through openings 23 in the platform and carry at the lower ends thereof the wheels 24 and 25. Connected to the under side of the handle is the bowed spring 26 carrying the pawl lever 27 the beveled end 28 of which is normally held in locking engagement with the pinion 29 on the shaft 18, by means of such spring.

When it is desired to operate the switch,

the handle is gripped and the spring drawn toward the same, which releases the pawl lever from locking engagement with the pinion. The wheel may now be turned and in the position shown in the drawings when thrown to the right will cause the small wheel 25 to contact with and depress the trip plate or block 5, and when thrown to the left the opposite wheel 24 will contact with the trip plate or block 4 and depress the latter. The switch will be thus opened and closed depending upon which block is depressed.

In'order to allow the wheels to travel smoothly and evenly along the surface of the ground adjacent to the switch throwing mechanism between the tracks, I provide a plate 30 of metal or the like which lies above the surface of the track in parallelism therewith, said plate having slots 31-31 therein through which the trip plates or contact blocks 4 and 5 may project. This plate thus forms a platform immediately adjacent to the switch throwing mechanism, so that when the operating mechanism on the car is lowered the wheels 24: and 25 will have a smooth even surface to travel upon. It will be noted that I have provided a very simple yet reliable and efficient means whereby the switch may be readily thrown, said means having portions thereof located below the level of the surface of the ground between the tracks so as not to interfere with the usual traffic in the street.

WVhile I have herein shown and described one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to all the precise details of construction herein shown, as modification and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. The combination with a trackway and a switch point therefor, of a plurality of depressible contact blocks located between the trackway, connections between said contact blocks and switch point, and means carried by a car traveling over the trackway and adapted to depress the contact blocks to open and close the switch point, said means comprising a shaft, a wheel upon the shaft, a plurality of arms pivotally connected to the spokes of the wheel and projecting through the platform of the car, and contact wheels carried by the lower ends of said arms and adapted to engage said contact blocks.

2. The combination with a trackway and a switch point therefor, of a plurality of depressible contact blocks located between the trackway, connections between said contact blocks and switch point, and means carried by a car traveling over the trackway and adapted to depress the contact blocks to open and close the switch point, said means comprising a shaft, a wheel upon the shaft, a plurality of arms pivotally connected to the spokes of the Wheel and projecting through the platform of the car, contact wheels carried by the lower ends of said arms and adapted to engage said contact blocks, a handle for actuating the wheel, and locking means for said wheel comprising a spring actuated pawl lever, and a pinion adapted to engage said pawl lever.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. NELSON. itnesses S. OARBONN, Jr., ELIZABETH BRODERICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

